The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-06
Railroads ana Their Uses fra ne.
vclOpinR the Country.

The great valley lying between Mob and
North mountains, embracing many town.
ships In upper Columbia and lower Luz
erne counties, is, perhaps. the most extern
sive one In central Pennsylvania. 1t
stretches into vast and extensive undu-
lating plateau several acres of miles in
length, from Orangeville north west and
east containing or hundred square
miles, sufficient for 8 or thousand so
acre FARMS In which are many thriving
villages, swelling total population from
20 to 30 thousand inhabitants. 1t is ira
versed by numerous streams whose courses
run in south westerly and south easterly
directions, many OF which have sufficient
volume Of water for manufacturing and
other purposes and whose sources in the
main can be traced to the top Of North
mountain. North mountain is an elevated
and immense plateau, an almost endless
wilderness of great variety of timbers
| whose capacity will furnish an almost in
exhaustible supply of lumber. Mob noun.
| tain's sides slope up boldly and meet at
| the top In such a manner that 1t could be
buuulCu duu dlI dlOUR llb tuRt.
| To make this the most productive vail ey
| In the state needs but the application OF
| lime which is the most efficient fertilizer
| adapted to the soil and which cannot now
| be procured without too great expense, hav.
| ing no other facilities for transportation
than carting with teams and wagons, dis
tances varying from IL to 20 miles. Symp-
toms of coal have been discovered in differ.
ent localities, but as no proper means for
their development are at hand they will no
doubt lie dormant until greater demand
for that commodity will change our farm
ing community to mining district. The
Bloomsbury & Sullivan railroad, now
graded to saltwater, and pledged to be
completed and put in active operation as
far as Benton by July 4th, distance oi
IL miles, connecting Bloomsbury and Ber
nice with many intermediate points wher
| fully constructed. This road crosses the
western portion of our valley along The
banks of F1shingcreek and penetrates the
forests on North mountain into Suli var
county. The aboye named mountains rur
in parallel ranges whose bases are dis
tanced IL to Is miles and effectually con
fine the valley from easy communication
with the outer world.
The Wilkesbarre g. Western railway now
in the course Of construction and complet
ed from Watsontown to Millville, a dis.
tance of % miles, seems to hesitate, anC
undecided which course to take from tina
point to enhance most the interest of tha
company. Several routes have been
thoroughly tested but serious obstructions
and other difficulties confront them at some
point or other. The company are making
a survey from Millvile up Little Fishing
creek to intersect the old Hunlock's creek
and Muncy survey, thence run on that line
eastward to Harveyville, at which point i.
the nation famed "Bloomingdale Camp
meeting Ground" 1t is difficult to predict
the eastern terminus of the road from tina
point Should the W 81 ". take thi
route, 1t would effectually sweep :he loca
and passenger traffic from its western to III
eastern terminous throughout the entir,
length and breadth of the valley and have
easy and commodious access along tn,
whole range of North mountain who's,
capacity for lnmber will furnish half cen
tury Of busy traffic. 1t will also put lowe
Luzerne in direct communication will
Wilkesbarre and secure nine tenths NOR
local and passenger freight than the mol
mountain route would. APEX.